Judy26
Pearl Clutcher
MOTFY Bitchy Nursemaid
Posts: 2,971 
Location: NW PA
|
Post by Judy26 on Jul 30, 2014 3:24:23 GMT
...both as a teacher and a tax payer. Teachers took a pay freeze in our contract for 2 years because our economy has really never recovered. My job was eliminated and I was moved to a different school where I am now doing the work of 2 1/2 teachers previously. I can do it. I just can't do it to the standards I am used to. Custodial jobs are almost certainly being outsourced starting next month. 30 some employees will lose their jobs and be replaced by minimum wage - no benefit jobs. Monday night all administrators were given a 3% raise and several were given bonuses. I have always been a team player and have gone above and beyond my contractual duties to make sure my students got the best education possible. Right now I feel used. I'm so disgusted with our board. The raises and bonuses are a huge amount of money that could have been used to enhance student services. I don't know how these people can make these decisions and then look into the eyes of the kids or the people they are putting out of work. Retirement can't come soon enough...
|
|
SabrinaP
Pearl Clutcher
Busy Teacher Pea
Posts: 4,408
Location: Dallas Texas
|
Post by SabrinaP on Jul 30, 2014 3:28:57 GMT
That is disgusting! We have had a pay freeze for the last 5 years while our district tries to climb out of its financial hole. I would be livid if that pay freeze wasn't across the board!
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 6, 2024 16:18:01 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2014 3:35:55 GMT
 That's really appalling. |
|
julieb
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,845
|
Post by julieb on Jul 30, 2014 3:38:20 GMT
This sounds like our grade school district. They are pulling the same crap with the custodians. They just spent millions on a building with heated floors to hold the service vehicles and millions to rehab both middle schools that are just fine. They are also putting up a chain link fence around the soccer field to keep everyone off of it. Money going down the drain, when they are cutting art, music and after school activities, let alone the staff cuts.
|
|
freebird
Drama Llama
'cause I'm free as a bird now
Posts: 6,927
|
Post by freebird on Jul 30, 2014 3:38:29 GMT
That's bullshit and I'd probably call the newspaper.
|
|
|
|
Post by welshjenni on Jul 30, 2014 3:49:45 GMT
That's bullshit and I'd probably call the newspaper. That was my first thought as well. |
|
|
|
Post by *KatyCupcake* on Jul 30, 2014 3:49:44 GMT
Wow that is so discouraging! How on earth can they justify that? Sounds like something the teacher's union would be all over if they're big in your area like they are here. I'm not usually pro-union, but I can see where this would be a good reason they still exist. I'm sure you will still bend over backwards to do your absolute best for those students in your classroom this year, but I can understand how it would be hard not to let bitterness creep in after a slap in the face like that!
|
|
|
|
Post by Belia on Jul 30, 2014 3:52:44 GMT
That would hack me off. But, as a fellow public school employee, I'm not at all surprised.
|
|
sakura
Junior Member
Posts: 55
|
Post by sakura on Jul 30, 2014 3:57:41 GMT
How on earth can they let employees go one minute and vote for raises for themselves the next? That's infuriating!
|
|
|
|
Post by fiddlesticks on Jul 30, 2014 4:02:49 GMT
We had something similar happen 7-8 years ago and it was never rectified even when the public found out. There is still so much anger and hurt about it after all this time. It is brought up every time we have to negotiate a new contract and that was 2 superintendents and who knows how many school board members ago. I am sorry.
|
|
|
|
Post by Lexica on Jul 30, 2014 4:03:58 GMT
If that happened here, I would want to know about it. That makes me livid. I'd be calling for a review of the Board that voted on those raises. I'm all for getting the newspapers involved.
|
|
|
|
Post by sillyrabbit on Jul 30, 2014 4:05:14 GMT
That sucks. Big time.
|
|
|
|
Post by 950nancy on Jul 30, 2014 4:13:07 GMT
That is just awful. Our pay was frozen for five years. This year we got a 3.45% raise, but our new insurance premiums will eat that up. Raises need to go to the teachers too. Lots of people are trying to pay back their student loans on top of regular bills.
|
|
|
|
Post by *KatyCupcake* on Jul 30, 2014 4:18:01 GMT
950nancy, the two teachers who are my neighbors were expressing a similar frustration- that the little pay increase they got in their most recent contract did nothing to offset the increase in insurance premiums. I just know my kids' teachers have been the most amazing and hardworking people and I want them to feel appreciated. These kinds of stories make me so sad for them.
|
|
|
|
Post by freecharlie on Jul 30, 2014 4:18:48 GMT
That pisses me off to no end.
My old district got a "raise" last year, but then our lunch was unpaid. So I was on contract from 7:30-4 (instead of 8-4), but paid for only the 8 hours, not for the 30 minutes. I could count on one hand the number of lunches I spent uninterrupted per month and there were some months (due to the severe needs of my students) that I didn't get a lunch at all and would have someone bring me my food while I stayed with a student.
So the "raise" and unpaid lunch amounted to free working from the teachers. If you would have added up what I would make per hour with a one time pay (over contract), I actually took a pay cut because I ended up working during those unpaid lunches.
|
|
|
|
Post by tidegirl on Jul 30, 2014 4:21:59 GMT
I am sorry. That has to be discouraging. What a disservice to the teachers and families of you district. I would imagine they will be fending off angry phone calls for the next few days. Perhaps they will rethink their decision.
|
|
ingrid
Full Member
Posts: 490
Jun 26, 2014 0:52:41 GMT
|
Post by ingrid on Jul 30, 2014 4:25:35 GMT
That's appalling. I would also go to the paper. I'm not a fan of unions in general, but don't the teachers in your district belong to one? This is the type of situation where I would imagine a union becomes very vocal and goes to bat for the members.
I'm so sorry. The raises are bad enough, but bonuses push me over the edge when teachers have had their pay frozen for a couple of years.
|
|
katybee
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,448
|
Post by katybee on Jul 30, 2014 4:30:27 GMT
Last year I got a $62 per month raise, but my insurance went up $100 per month. I have worked in my district for 10 years and only make about $800 per year more than I did when I started. I couldn't make if without my supplemental income. But my superintendent makes $220,000 per year ( and he's one of the lowest paid superintendents in central Texas). But when we have a pay freeze, he takes a pay freeze too.... For some reason that doesn't make me feel better. Our custodians, paras and cafeteria workers make no money at all. . We take up funds to get them grocery store gift cards several times a year. |
|
|
|
Post by njinkerbelle on Jul 30, 2014 4:30:48 GMT
Our district did this too. The parents I speak with are outraged and are asking what justifies the raises. Still waiting for the board to come back with an answer, but one thing is certain, we all know how we are voting come election time.
|
|
cycworker
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,387
|
Post by cycworker on Jul 30, 2014 4:37:35 GMT
Absolutely unacceptable.
|
|
|
|
Post by darkchami on Jul 30, 2014 5:00:30 GMT
I am so sorry. You remind me of how lucky I am to be working in my school district. When we were short on funds, the entire administration from the superintendent on down voted to take a pay cut rather than lay off teachers. That is how you get a loyal staff willing to go above and beyond.
|
|
AmeliaBloomer
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,842
Location: USA
Jun 26, 2014 5:01:45 GMT
|
Post by AmeliaBloomer on Jul 30, 2014 5:17:36 GMT
...Custodial jobs are almost certainly being outsourced starting next month. I'm not minimizing the rest of the story (which stinks, btw), but outsourcing school custodians is a disturbing trend. School custodians are part of the culture and climate of the school. They juggle a lot of relationships - principal, staff, students. They need to like kids and feel protective about them. I'm not saying agency custodians necessarily dislike kids or teachers - just that this trend affects school climate much more than many people realize. I've seen this plan go sour in more than one school. The bottom line isn't everything. |
|
anniebygaslight
Drama Llama
I'd love a cup of tea. #1966
Posts: 7,402
Location: Third Rock from the sun.
Jun 28, 2014 14:08:19 GMT
|
Post by anniebygaslight on Jul 30, 2014 5:44:49 GMT
That stinks. I agree with the suggestion that you call the newspapers.
|
|
|
|
Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Jul 30, 2014 10:52:48 GMT
That seems unconscionable. Is it possible that the admins' contracts required those raises and bonuses? Still... it would be hard to swallow when you're at the end not receiving any relief.
|
|
|
|
Post by christine58 on Jul 30, 2014 11:12:47 GMT
...both as a teacher and a tax payer. Teachers took a pay freeze in our contract for 2 years because our economy has really never recovered. My job was eliminated and I was moved to a different school where I am now doing the work of 2 1/2 teachers previously. I can do it. I just can't do it to the standards I am used to. Custodial jobs are almost certainly being outsourced starting next month. 30 some employees will lose their jobs and be replaced by minimum wage - no benefit jobs. Monday night all administrators were given a 3% raise and several were given bonuses. I have always been a team player and have gone above and beyond my contractual duties to make sure my students got the best education possible. Right now I feel used. I'm so disgusted with our board. The raises and bonuses are a huge amount of money that could have been used to enhance student services. I don't know how these people can make these decisions and then look into the eyes of the kids or the people they are putting out of work. Retirement can't come soon enough... That's just so wrong. Some schools in my area of NYS had freezes in salary a couple years ago...everyone was frozen even the administrators. I'd be pissed off enough to help get this info out to the entire tax base. Are you unionized?? I am our Teachers' Union President and I would be doing everything in my power to get all this info out.... |
|
|
|
Post by Miss Ang on Jul 30, 2014 11:15:25 GMT
I was going to say the same thing.  I'm sorry. |
|
peabay
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,891
Jun 25, 2014 19:50:41 GMT
|
Post by peabay on Jul 30, 2014 11:16:53 GMT
That's repulsive.
|
|
purplebee
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,792
Member is Online
|
Post by purplebee on Jul 30, 2014 11:24:32 GMT
That is awful. My small district fired the custodians a few years back for a private vendor, we're talking some folks who had been there for 20+ years.
Then promptly hired them back after a year with the private entity because they did a terrible job. Now there is talk about the possibility of them doing it after this coming school year to the cafeteria staff. No union in this area.
But any raises are always reported in the local paper.
|
|
|
|
Post by pretzels on Jul 30, 2014 11:32:59 GMT
This sounds like the school district to the north of me. The state just took it over and installed a Board of Managers made up of people from the community. The old school board had a list of 221 people (primarily teachers) they were going to layoff. The BOM came in and it turns out that really they only need to reduce by 35 positions or something like that, and there are enough necessary vacant positions that they can fill from the teachers who were going to be RIF'd. Indictments started going out yesterday. It's been interesting to watch from my school district, which while it has some problems, at least isn't run by crooks. I'm sorry you're dealing with this.
|
|
|
|
Post by epeanymous on Jul 30, 2014 11:43:06 GMT
I am very sorry. I have heard this from people in other districts as well. By all means, going public isn't the worst idea, but I have seen people be pretty meh about the issue, as we have devalued teaching and public education and as we have moved towards thinking people at the top of the food chain (like administrators) should be rewarded more than other people.
I really can't imagine what is more valuable than the work that educators do with kids. Of all the places for us to cut back, it baffles me that we are ever in a position hashtag we are cutting back there.
|
|
That's really appalling.
